Inositol and PCOS

Since writing the Honest, Hairy Truth articles, I’ve had a lot of questions and feedback from many of you wanting more information on Inositol. For some of those who have tried it, the results have been dramatic, with one woman losing 21 pounds in a month since taking it.For some of those who have tried it, the results have been dramatic I have to say that my results have not been as dramatic but I have seen a slight improvement in my weight and hirsutism. Could combining Inositol with a good PCOS diet be effective in managing our PCOS symptoms and if Inositol is able to produce some improvements, not matter how big or small, I think it’s worth having a closer look at it. Don’t you?

What is Inositol?

Inositol is a naturally occurring substance that used to be considered as one of the B vitamins. The body is able to produce it on its own, though, so it isn’t considered a vitamin anymore.

Inositol is the common name given to Myo-Inositol. So generally, if you see Inositol supplements, it isMyo-Inositol on the bottle.

This is important because myo-inositol is part of a family of 9 forms of inositol, otherwise known as an “isomer”. This gets a bit technical so bear with me. An isomer has the same technical composition and arrangement of molecules but the placement of the atoms differs.

Huh? Basically, there are nine compounds in the Inositol family that are all basically identical except for one minor change between each. This means that if your body is lacking in one form of Inositol, it can convert one of the other compounds into the one that is lacking.

What does Inositol do?

It seems that Inositol has two jobs really. The first one is that it is important in the insulin receptors of each cell. The receptor is on every cell wall and works as a lock and key mechanism. Insulin needs to fit just right for the receptor to open and let the insulin work its magic on the cell. If the receptor isn’t working very well, your body produces more insulin to compensate, leading to insulin resistance. Inositol helps the receptor work more efficiently so Insulin can bind properly the first time, causing your body to not produce too much insulin.

Its second job involves the Insulin signalling pathway. Now, I’m not a Biochemist but my understanding of inositol’s role in insulin signalling is as follows. As insulin attaches to the cell wall, it sets in a motion a series of changes within the cell. Inositol plays a role in this series of changes and it is important for insulin to be effective within the cell. (1)

Inositol is also involved in stopping insulin’s effect on the cell. In a sense, it helps to flip the off switch.

Right, that’s most of the technical stuff over, I hope.

Inositol and PCOS

Let’s move on to the good stuff… Why we should all be taking Myo-inositol.

I could give you loads of research articles but I’m just going to give you the summarized version of the effects of Inositol on PCOS (2):

As mentioned in my Honest Hairy Truth post, it has also been shown to be effective in managing hirsutism

OVULATION!

There is also some good research on how myo-inositol helps with fertility and pregnancy. Inositol has been shown to:

Restore normal ovulatory activity and fertility in women with PCOS

Improve egg quality and pregnancy rate in women with failed IVF

Improve pregnancy rate and lower cancellation rate in women with PCOS

I just want to caution you, I have not found any research on the safety of taking myo-inositol during pregnancy so PLEASEcheck with your doctor if you do fall pregnant while taking it.

How much and how?

Inositol is available in capsules and powdered form. The research studies were conducted using 4gper day of inositol and combining it with Folic Acid. If you take 4g in capsule form, you’ll land up taking a lot of capsules (I found 500mg capsules so I would need to take 8 a day).

The powdered form is mixed in a glass of water. It has a slightly sweet taste and I can hardly taste it. So, when I started taking Inositol, I started with the Jarrow Formulas Inositol Powder, 227g which is available on Amazon.com

Ovasitol from Theralogix is also a great option. It combines two kinds of inositols - D-chiro-inositol and myo-inositol - in a 40:1 ratio. This is the same ratio that these two inositols are found in the body. There is strong evidence for both D-chiro and myo-inositol and PCOS. So, this is what I now take. You can get Ovasitol (using PRC code 144144) at the best price here.

So, all of the research on Inositol looks promising for women with PCOS. I started taking it about a month ago and have seen some small improvements in my symptoms. I’d love to hear about your experiences of Inositol and if it’s helped you with any of your PCOS symptoms. Please leave me a comment below and we can share the inositol love!

Author: Tarryn

Tarryn is a PCOS Expert, Blogger and Coach. Since being diagnosed with PCOS 10 years ago, Tarryn has dedicated her time to researching, understanding and teaching about PCOS. She is the founder of PCOS Diet Support, one of the leading PCOS websites worldwide. You can find out more about Tarryn here.

Hi Tarryn, I started the diet and supplements you suggest about 4 weeks ago and I can see some new hair growth on my scalp! I just have one question: you say to take inositol with folic acid, and also that you take 2g inositol in the morning and the other 2g in the evening. I also have been doing that, but I only take the folic acid in the morning as it is one tiny tablet. Is that ok, or do you mean I should also split the folic acid in two? Otherwise I might be better off to take the full inositol dose in the morning with the folic acid.

Oh my goodness! I am so glad I found your article. I am about to order the powder and I can’t wait to see the results. Since i can remember, I have been irregular. However, I had no idea I had PCOS until December ’12. My doctor put me on diane 35….Unfortunately, this only made my body feel worse so I discontinued taking the pill just this month (August). I am hopeful now that I can get regular cycles with Inositol and even get pregnant without using any meds! My doctor suggested to take prenatal vitamins as of now… So plus the Inositol I am set! Can’t wait until the day I get to tell my husband that we are expecting a little baby…and better yet, to be a mommy. Thank you for giving me hope!!!!

Hi there it’s so nice to feel like I’m not alone I’ve been taking notes while reading the above comments just want to make sure I’ve got it right: Myo inositol 200g morning and night Folic acid 400mcg once a day How much vitamin D and omega 3?

Also someone recommended: Chromium 2000mg a day and Saw palmetto 329mg a day Are these safe with what you recommend?

I’m hoping all the above with the proper diet and exercise while shift this beard once and for all !

Hi there it’s so nice to feel like I’m not alone I’ve been taking notes while reading the above comments just want to make sure I’ve got it right: Myo inositol 200g morning and night Folic acid 400mcg once a day How much vitamin D and omega 3?

Also someone recommended: Chromium 200mg a day and Saw palmetto 329mg a day Are these safe with what you recommend?

I’m hoping all the above with the proper diet and exercise while shift this beard once and for all !

Hi tarryn, I am pregnant nw BT jst in my early stage……I very pcos and I want to know if it’s okay to take inositol nw or metformin cos I realised dnt want to lose display bby and also watched supplements did u use when u were preggy

I have just been diagnosed pcos this year with years of struggling with my weight since I was 3 years old 🙁 & irregular periods I didn’t start them until I was 16 had 1 period then nothing. My doc put me on the pill which helped me have periods but had to come off them at 24 as they were making feel sick, I’m 26 now & haven’t had a period for 2 years. I changed my doc a she sent me to have blood tests & ultrasounds which confirmed I have pcos finally, she has put me on metformin 1000g a day & I take seven seas trying for a baby pills to 1 a day & I’ve just ordered jarrows inositol powder to try cant wait till it comes il let u know how I get on. This website is absolutely fantastic I have learnt so much on here more than the Internet just like to say thank u I finally understand what has been wrong with me all my life 🙂 xx

Also can I just ask my sister is trying to get pregnant she has weight problems but does not have pcos can she take inositol aswell she had a miscarriage last year 🙁 & have been trying ever since no luck yet x

Hi Taryn! Few questions…1) should you take inositol if you are already on Metformin? And 2) I’m just so frustrated and confused by PCOS, I’m trying to get pregnant so is the goal here to completely get rid of PCOS or just to ovulate? Every time I have an ultrasound there are still cysts and I’m just not understanding if I can get pregnant with cysts still there or not?! Thanks!!

Hi..oh please helppp! Im in iraq there is no good doctor in here 🙁 im 18 and i have PCOS problems..i even have hair on my neck .. U know what i mean ..about the metformin the doctor told me and i had metformin for 3months..it didnt work even abit! So today i checked about vit B12..can it help to get a regular menstrual cycle? Cause my menstrual cycle is not regular,5 or 6 months with out coming! So b12 helps alone? I mean does it need to be taken with something else like folic acid?..and about inositol..should i take it with folic acid? Or just its own? Please help 🙁 thank u alot

Just found this link for anyone on this side of the world. Hope it helps. I have had a rough time with PCOS, since my teens, been on metformin for about 5 years, lost some weight, but spots & hair really bad , don’t want to take Dianette any more. My son who will be four in October was conceived on four rounds of Clomid (3 x 50mg & 1 x 100mg) hoping number 2 will be conceived sometime sooooon!!! Took a few rounds of 50 mg again but periods actually stopped! Tried 100mg & that has actually brought on a period (painful as hell 🙁 ) so hoping that the ball is rolling now. Very pleased to hear about this supplement. Will try anything at this stage!! Thank you!!!

Hi Tarryn, Thanks so much for the info! I have started using Myo-Inositol powder now for 1 week and just after 2 days my waking blood sugar was down to 5.1 from 6.7 meaning that my insulin resistance must be improving already! I also have much less bloating/ water gain. One question for you, do you take it with or without food? I am finding conflicting information on the web. Thanks again! Holly

I am 22 and got diagnosed with PCOS about 3 years ago, after numerous trips to the doctors. In the end I had to ask to be tested for PCOS as they told me I was too young at the time to have it. After having the tests, the results showed I have PCOS. I was placed on yasmin tablets, and basically forgotten about by the doctors. I have returned time after time, asking for help with weight gain and excess hair. But after being told 5 days a week in the gym isn’t enough “there are 7 days in a week” and also being told “join a slimming world or weight watchers class they will help you” the doctors have left me no choice but to fight PCOS alone. I have started taking inositol 650mg tablets (3 a day) and hope to see results soon.

I am suffering from PCOS since last 2 years and going through several medication but of no use. I want to conceive but not succeeded and my periods are always irregular. My treating doctor told me that I have to go for Laproscopic surgery and to remove the Cyst. Then after I think to go for the second opinion and contacted another doctor who given me the 5 injection of MONOCEF to take everyday and one tablet for vitamins and one tablet named OVACET, and the doctor told me that no need for the surgery although just go for the medication now for three months and everything will be fine. Now I am little bit confused as what to do whether going for this medication or Laproscopy. I am very much pleased to see your research in this blog and really you are doing a lot help for a woman like us. Waiting for your valuable reply. Thanks Nusrat

Ultimately, you need to make an informed decision about what the implications of both are. Monocef seems to be an anti-biotic. You may want to find out why he is treating you with antibiotics. The Ovacet is Inositol and Folic Acid and should be really helpful with managing your symptoms. It has been shown to improve fertility, help with spontaneous ovulation and improve egg quality.

The laprosccopy is more invasive and even if the cyst is removed, it won’t necessarily deal with the underlying cause of your fertility issues (PCOS).

Why not try the medication for the three months and monitor your symptoms. If you haven’t seen any improvement, you can consider the laproscopy. Also, make sure you’re taking Omega 3 and Vitamin D and that you’re following a good diet.

Sorry for nosing in, but Tarryn is right about diet! It seems to me that in many countries doctors just prescribe the metformin but don’t say anything about diet and sport. Unless you follow the IR diet you won’t really improve. Here in Hungary they say that in this treatment metformin is 30% helping the improvement and the other 70% are diet and sport. Also if you dont follow the diet you will have nasty side effects with metformin(glucophage).

Thanks a lot Tarryn. I am going to start this but one more thing I am noticing in me that I started the Joint pain and when I am standing feeling a heavy pain in my kneels(bottom back of my Foot). When I consulted a Neurologist he has given me medication but he told me not to take Ovacet. Now I don’t know what to do as I don’t want to break my Ovacet treatment along with the Omega 3. Please advice what to do

I’m sorry that you’re having such a hard time. I don’t know that neurologist’s reasons for advising against Ovacet but I would be inclined to ask more questions about why he is advising against it. I can’t tell you to go against your neurologist’s opinion. Why not break your ovacet treatment for a while and see how your progress?

Plz v been on inositol and folic acid for like 3months nw and I jes found out dat am preggy. Plz can I still continue wif d supplement or stop. Dnt wanna lose d preggy due to insulin and oda pcos sytmz

CONGRATULTAIONS Oyinda! That’s amazing news! Inositol has been shown to help maintain pregnancies in women with PCOS. You can read more about that here: https://sites.google.com/site/miscarriageresearch/supplements-and-miscarriage/d-chiro-inositol I would also consult with your doctor to check the dosages though. I continued with my 4 g per day for the first trimester but, again, I have not found research to support this dose and your doctor will be better able to advise you.

Hi Tarryn, I’ve ordered Inositol and fish oil, cant wait to start using them. Could you advise if i could take the inositol at once? i work full time and wouldnt be able to do morning and afternoon like you suggested. Thanks for helping women like me. Really grateful for yr time

Hi Tarryn, I started taking the fish oil supplement (EPA 180mg,DHA 120mg)daily and also Just received my Jarrow powder Inositol and about to start using it. How do I take 4g a day if i have to take it at once? Can I take it at night?

So do you know if it is ok to take if I do not need at all to loose weight?

I’m on metformin since 1,5 year and I would like to change to inositol. My insulin levels went back to almost normal, only my LH is high all the time despite the fact that I’m ovulating, I’m regular and have nice progesterone. So it’s weird, I hope inositol will really make the balance with my hormones, also I would like to have less acne they are usually on my jawline, around my earlobe, they are cystic, most of the time, I can’t get rid of them like normal pimples, I just have to wait and they are absorbing by themselves. I also suggested it to a dear friend who has no period for a long time, and doctors can’t do a thing about it, hope it will help her finally.

I didn’t mean to skip your comment – sorry! I’m working my way through a huge backlog of comments and will get there eventually 🙂

It sounds like your testosterone levels may still be high if you are struggling with cystic acne. I would absolutely recommend taking Inositol and Folic acid, whether or not you need to lose weight. Also, make sure you are taking Omega 3 supplements as this has been shown to lower testosterone levels in women with PCOS.

Thanks Taryn!!! Well, testo levels were always fine, I’m struggeling with LH, also once DHEA-S was checked, it was also fine, weird… I just wanted to know whether you can tell that a thin pcoser can take inositol as some said it helps to loose weight. I’m already taking omega 3 with really high EPA content and also folic acid(Solgar metafolin) as I have MTHFR gene mutation. By the way I will start the Jarrow powder tonight… Exciting.

The answer is that a substance called IP6 helps with endometriosis and can help prevent the growth of this abnormal tissue. IP6 is manufactured by the body from Inositol. So, it may help. You could give it a try and see if your symptoms improve?

You may want to check with your doctor but it can be used with metformin and I’m sure with Clomid as well. It has been well researched in terms of its improvements in fertility, not just ovulation but also in terms of improving egg quality.

So do you know if it is ok to take if I do not need at all to loose weight?

I’m on metformin since 1,5 year and I would like to change to inositol. My insulin levels went back to almost normal, only my LH is high all the time despite the fact that I’m ovulating, I’m regular and have nice progesterone. So it’s weird, I hope inositol will really make the balance with my hormones, also I would like to have less acne they are usually on my jawline, around my earlobe, they are cystic, most of the time, I can’t get rid of them like normal pimples, I just have to wait and they are absorbing by themselves. I also suggested it to a dear friend who has no period for a long time, and doctors can’t do a thing about it, hope it will help her finally.

Hi, Tarryn +*+*+ Im Darai I live in Thailand and Im have a problem with PCOS since I was 12. I just found your website and I get a lot of knowledge from your kind posting the blog , its make me know more about myselve too. Sorry if I use wrong gramma to communicate with you English is not my native languese. I read your website and thinks its amazing !! I got hope to fight with my sympthom againd . And wanna say thanks to you so much to lets me know about this sympthom so clearly than my doctor. In thailand the pcos knowledge is very poor, I met a lot of doctor in famous hospital but everyone not told me anything they just gave me birth control pill . And once I found out on the internet that metformin can help pcos with insulin resistant and other sympthom so I asks the doctor to give me metformin then she say ” You can take it but ai thinks its doesnt help “. well now im very sad and frustrate in my pcos life , and im found out the pcos people in my country dont know about the way to cure or improove sympthom much more.

Im very interesting in the article ” myo inositol and Pcos ” that you share and I buy Jarrow Inositol in amazon already but I found the video in youtube http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I82OtKb4jtA i dont understand why myo inositol seem like the bad thing and seem like the only good thing is d chiro inositol to hepls? so if the myo inositol that I buy not transform to chiro inositol in my body its like I make my life more bad, is i right understanding or not ? please suggest me . thanks

Hi, Tarryn Im Darai I live in Thailand and Im have a problem with PCOS since I was 12. I just found your website and I get a lot of knowledge from your kind posting the blog , its make me know more about myselve too. Sorry if I use wrong gramma to communicate with you English is not my native languese. I read your website and thinks its amazing !! I got hope to fight with my sympthom againd . And wanna say thanks to you so much to lets me know about this sympthom so clearly than my doctor. In thailand the pcos knowledge is very poor, I met a lot of doctor in famous hospital but everyone not told me anything they just gave me birth control pill . And once I found out on the internet that metformin can help pcos with insulin resistant and other sympthom so I asks the doctor to give me metformin then she say ” You can take it but ai thinks its doesnt help “. well now im very sad and frustrate in my pcos life , and im found out the pcos people in my country dont know about the way to cure or improove sympthom much more.

Im very interesting in the article ” myo inositol and Pcos ” that you share and I buy Jarrow Inositol in amazon already but I found the video in youtube http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I82OtKb4jtA i dont understand why myo inositol seem like the bad thing and seem like the only good thing is d chiro inositol to hepls? so if the myo inositol that I buy not transform to chiro inositol in my body its like I make my life more bad, is i right understanding or not ? please suggest me . thanks

Wondering if you think this may be benefical for me though I no longer have ovaries or a uterus? Clearly PCOS is an endocrine disorder which is not just linked to the ovaries. Have heard that taking progesterone can cause bloating, etc and I obviously don’t need that but am hopeful that it could still help manage my other symptoms. Thanks!

I read this post months ago as I have PCOS and Ttc isnt easy. I am not on any drugs to treat it just try to eat cleanish. We tried for almost a yr with our first. This time had been 6 mo and nothing yet. I believed ovulation to be the problem. I looked into inositol cause of this post and after 1 mo we are pregnant! I took the powder 2x a day about 1t to get the full does but it has worked great for me. Thank you for posting and helpping us.

I am planning to purchase prenatude I was curious is this just a supplement for women with PCOS who don’t get their periods. I am always afraid of trying something new only to end up having my cycle thrown even more out of whack. My problem is low progesterone resulting in heavy bleeding that lasts weeks at a time I just recently cut out dairy, wheat, gluten, sugar, and alcohol. I am hoping that once I purchase some supplement I will find the final pieces to solve the puzzle.

HI Tarryn, I think I asked you this before but which inositol do you reccommend? I can’t seem to find it in my local health shop here (Ireland) or is it under a different brand name? Also can it be taken with Metformin? I’m currently on 1000mg daily.

Tarryn, I was wondering if Inositol will also help with acne. I have been struggling with it a lot recently and NOTHING makes it go away. Also My hair has been falling out, do you know of anything I can take along with Inositiol, folic acid, and omegas that will make my hair grow back thicker and healthier? Is it ok to take all these supplements daily?

It is definitely okay to take all of your supplements daily. The inositol should help with acne. Also, make sure that you have cut dairy out of your diet as that should also help. Thyroid issues can also cause hair loss so make sure you have your thyroid levels checked. Once your testosterone is more under control, you should see an improvement in all of your PCOS symptoms, including hair loss.

Inositol can help prevent miscarriage in the first trimester but can cause early labour later on. I did take inositol in my first trimester, but at a lower dose. I have stopped it completely now and just take my ante natal supplements.

I can’t say for sure as I have never used nor looked into the Fat Burn Cleanse. To be honest, I think diet and exercise is a tried and tested way of managing PCOS so I would personally stick with that.

The 500mg of Choline and Inositol actually only has 250mg of Inositol. All of the research is based on 4g Inositol per day so you would need to take 16 tablets per day. There is a plain Inositol of H&B which is 650mg so you would need to take 6 per day. This why I prefer the powder as you can just take 1 flat teaspoon in some water morning and evening to get your 4g.

Thank you soooo much for sharing your story and for sharing this information with everybody. I just ordered my inositol and I am excited to use it but I have some questions that I hope to find answers to, as I searched everywhere with no luck:

– Is inositol managing the symptoms (hair, acne, etc) as long as you take it or is it treating the problem? in other words, do women with PCOS needs to take it ‘forever’ to manage their hormon levels and thus their symptoms or is it for a period of time and then the body would adjust itself so they can go off it?

– What happens once you stop taking it (like if one fall pregnant)? will the hair and acne come back as they were?

The reason I am asking these question is because I had the worst experience with metformin. Although I had PCOS, I used to have clear skin and almost no hair problem, I used metformin for around 10 month, I wasn’t feeling good, and I didn’t get my period regularly while I was on it. Once I stopped it, I started to get acne and unwanted hair and didn’t get my period for 8 months! I tried everything and did lifestyle and diet changes and that helped. Now my cycle is regular but quite long (34-38), but I am still struggling with acne and unwanted hair. We will be trying for a baby soon (4-5 months), so I know I ‘hopefully’ would have to stop it once I get pregnant, but I am worried what would happen then like would my skin and everything go crazy and unmanageable again?

The thing with PCOS is that researchers have found that there is something inherently wrong with the cells that produce insulin in women with PCOS (we tend to release too much insulin in response to carbs). Also, our ovaries tend to be too sensitive to insulin, producing too much testosterone. Basically, no medication is going to fix this as it is part of our make up, unfortunately.

So, Inositol is a supplement to be take for the long term. Interestingly, it has been shown to lower the risk of miscarriage in women with PCOS so you may want to consider taking it into your first trimester.

It’s really important to manage your PCOS over the long term. As soon as you stop eating well, exercising and taking supplements, your symptoms will probably come back with a vengeance. So think of all of this as a lifestyle change and not just a temporary remedy.

I hope that this helps and I’m sorry to not have happier news for you!

As someone with MTHFR, I refuse to recommend that any client having difficulty conceiving take FOLIC ACID. Folic ACID (the synthetic form) is toxic to these people and will NOT have the health benefits you are looking for with pregnancy. For this reason I recommend the inositol powder on it’s own and adding a METHYL FOLATE supplement. Just something to think about.

Can you tell me please does myo inostiol regulate the period and can i tae this whole of my life,i take the BCP but when i leave my period is irregular i have one period for 5 months.. :S does myo inostiol is natural wothout side effects like BCP 🙂

Inositol helps to regulate your glucose metabolism which will help to lower your testosterone levels and therefore regulate your cycle. It can be taken for as long as you want to. It may not give you a completely regular cycle (like birth control) but it will help.

Hey! Im a 18 years Old Girl & I ve been diagnosed with pcos lately. I really have Increased Symptoms for this , I ve been taking inositol with birth controll pills about 1 month.. .. It feels Great after the hope you gave me due to this research ^^ Im young but actually verry concerned about being fertile !! I love Kids 🙂 My doctor asked me to take 4 g inositol per day & 1 tablet.Of birthcontroll pill for 6 months continously..Actually Im 173cm long & my weight is 63 , but i have no ovulation in addition to an excess in facial hairgrowth..Should I lose weight ? Or use any additional drug to remove the acne & hair …?

I’m glad your doctor has recommended Inositol! You need to make sure that you’re exercising regularly and following a good PCOS diet to help manage your symptoms. Also, hair growth is the symptom that takes the longest to improve so hang in there!

Hey , i read your article, and its really nice i would like to know that being in India Iv got Tab Ovacet that has inositol 100mg and doc has advised me to take it twice a day…so that’s gonna be only 200mgs ryt…u think that dosage is gonna help me I mean we are ttc for last 1.5 yrs ..but recently i was diagnosed with pcos…so the doc advised me …weight loss and tab ovacet and folic acid, how soon can i conceive after i start taking these meds…?

I have just started taking all of the B vitamins you have mentioned, individually but have just got wise to the vitamin B complex so that i can take them all in one which is great but with this containing Inositol do i still need to take it in a drink too, I’ve bought the powdered version and take this every morning in fresh orange juice.

I am on 8th month of pregnancy, I am diagonised with gaestation dibetities. Could you please advise if it is safe to take Myo-Inositol during last timester of pregnancy. My 31 weeks of pregnancy going on.

Hi Tarryn As well as having PCOS I also have a thyrioid issue – I am on 100mcg of thyroxine. I have been trying to coceive for 2.5 years now and been on metformin, clomid… the works for this length of time. I want to do something different and came across your site. Do you think it is ok to take inositol with thyroxine. I also take a mutlivit with 4oomcg folic acid – do you think that is ok or shall I take a separate tablet for folic acid. Thanks for your help Catriona

I came across your website when researching to find updated information on PCOS. I’ve had PCOS since my late teens. My husband and I were married in 2005 and tried to conceive for years. Late 2011 I decided to talk to a fertility specialist and went through once cycle of IVF treatment and it worked! We were blessed with our son in April 2012. I’m wanting to have another baby in the near future and I want to do it naturally due the expense of IVF. I read about what you posted on Pregnitude and other ladies comments on how well it worked for them. I’m so glad to find this website, I think your doing such a wonderful job giving your insight on PCOS and providing great information on this topic. For a long time I felt so alone in having PCOS but I realized that I am not alone but just part of a special group of women who are a little different.

Hi Tarryn, I am so thankful to have found your website! I am 30 yrs old and was diagnosed about 10 yrs ago. After many side effects from the usual meds and frustration with trying to lose weight and battle Hirsutism, I had sort of given up on trying to manage my PCOS (stupid, I know). Now, 10 years and over 60 pounds later, I am desperate to get my life back! Regarding the Inositol, I was wondering if I should take the Pregnitude packets even if I’m not trying I conceive? They just seem more convenient. Also, I’m sure it’s somewhere in your web site but I was wondering if you could give me a list of all supplements I should be taking? One more thing :)…. I recently started taking Garcinia Cambogia supplements to lose weight and was curious if you are familiar with or have any insights into taking it with PCOS?

I know it’s a lot… I would appreciate any advice you might have. Thanks again for such a great site! Stephanie

Thank you for this post Tarryn, I purchased the inositol powder and will be taking it in the morning and evening. Do you know if it needs to be taken on an empty stomach for better results? I take it right after eating breakfast and dinner but I wonder if I should have it before I eat.

Hello, I just ordered my first box of Pregnitude, and I was wondering – do you take it before eating ? or with food as in after eating ? currently I have had PCOS for ten years, trying to conceive for the past 6 months, I am 38 and my doctor put me on birth control for a few months to help regulate my cycle and decrease my testosterone, I also take a prenatal and metformin. I am very hopeful about pregnitude and hope to get off the Birth control and start working on trying to have a baby again..

Hi! I ran across your website as I was searching PCOS diet, etc. and I am so glad that I found it! I have been on BC all my life and when I finally came off of it to try to conceive, BOOM. No ovulation and my body was attacked by PCOS. I have been struggling for the past two years with hormones and finally started to get a hold on them, though not completely. I started taking Pregnitude about six months ago and I have to tell you, it has done WONDERS for me. I am not at a 28 day cycle by any means, but each cycle gets a little bit shorter. It has improved my acne and ovulation cycle. My doctor also recommended N-Acetyl Cysteine…anyone know a whole lot about that??? I definitely do not do dairy for the reasons you stated on your article. I still struggle with storing fat in my lower abdominal area though. Sometimes I don’t know if I am bloated from GI issues or just storing more fat there. I work out five days a week, and eat well and still have issues with this. This is so foreign to me! Help!

Sounds like you have made some really good progress in getting your symptoms under control. The belly fat is a big issue for me too and is a pain to lose (one of the gripes with PCOS). I have heard of NAC but not tried it myself. Sounds like it might be worth a go, though!

Hello! I’m new to the site and actually just got diagnosed with PCOS tyesterday. I’m only 20 years old so I want to have this maintained so I can actually concieve when I want to!

In regards to this powder/pill is the best place to buy it amazon? Will i not be able to find it in a local drug store? I’m shopping today for foods for my new PCOS diet and I wasn’t sure if i’d be able to find the Inositol there.

Hi everyone, ok I need some major advice… I started taking the inositol powder on April 1. I have been taking it twice a day. Last Wednesday I started having brown discharge with pink. Every day since its been brownish discharge. Today I have been having the discharge but it almost is hunky as in ovulation. Could this just be things starting to move down there or could this be ovulation? I definitely feel like period, bloated etc… But not sure what to think… help!,

Hi tarryn i really want to upgrade but i cant as money is required. N i cant pay the amount. I really want your help as im also suffering from pcos. I also want my meal plans and help in what to do. Im only 16 years n my height is 5.7’5 n weight is 80kg Please reply. Thankyou.

Hi Tarryn! I’m so glad I have found your site. I’ve been suffering from PCOS throughtout my teenage life only blaming it on puberty and was diagnosed with PCOS just last summer. I’m 21. It has stolen my feminism. It is literally ruining my life because I was diagnosed with depression and used to have multiple panic attacks, and eating disorder. I didn’t understand why my body was getting more and more hairy like a freaking monkey whereas I was shedding my hair on my head. I took BCP for a year and yet there was no significant improvement on my face. I was still breaking out like crazy and my face now looks like a war zone. I do so much to lose weight, limit my calorie intake, stuff myself with protein, workout my ass off and within 3 months, I only see a little result by losing hardly 6lbs. Okay negative points aside, I’m so happy that I found people who understands this and going through the same and fighting with this awful thing. I heard spironolactone was very helpful in curing acne. Have you ever tried it? Do you think it’s a bit too much if I use BCP, spironolactone and inositol all at once? You can tell right? I’m desparate; to lose weight and to have a clear skin. Please help me!

So if I am taking the Jarrows brand, do i need to take 1.6 teaspoon daily, in order to reach the 4g? It says 1000mg = 1g, and each 1/4 teaspoon of the Jarrows = 600mg. Or am I missing something? Sorry, confused…

I am ordering some today. I will give you an update later. I am excited to try something new. I got off all my prescriptions because they weren’t working. I want to try to manage my PCOS with diet, exercise and supplements.

I purchased the Jarrows Inositol. I’m only taking 1/4 teaspoon and in a week I lost 2 pounds. I also try to watch my carbs and workout but I usually gain weight if I cheat. This time I didn’t gain weight over the weekend. This is giving me hope.

I am already taking Yasmin, high strength Vitamin B complex, Chromium and spriulina. Would you suggest I continue taking all these supplements in addition to the folic acid and inositol? I am keen to finally shift the excess weight(2stone).

I have just read about the inositol and looked at the amazon site however you have mentioned to take it with folic acid would that be in form of tablets? I have nto actually taken any sort of supplements for my PCS and cant wait to start. Thank you for the information also I am not trying to conceive just manage my PCOS.

tarryn, i just got my pregnitude in the mail, and it says to take two packets a day. im not trying to conceive, i just want to have healthier organs. each packet comes with 200mg Myo-inositol / 200mg folic acid. would you suggest taking two packets a day, or just one? thanks! im excited a bout starting it!

Hello! your website is giving me a lot of hope. Thank you. I just ordered the Jarrow Formulas Inositol Powder and was wondering how much folic acid should be taken in addition with this? thanks so much Kristen

I’ve been living with pcos since i was 13, im 19 now and going back and forth to the hospital having refferals has not helped me one bit. I was wondering where would I be able to get this Inositol? and what is the best one to get? as i have tried everything that the doctors have given me.

I’m so glad this site has helped – thanks for letting me know! I use Jarrow Powder Inositol which I ordered from Amazon. It costs about £20 but should last roughly three months. Also make sure that you take it with Folic Acid, even if you are not trying to conceive.

I think it depends what results you’re looking for. Many lose weight soon after taking it and it should start to improve your glucose metabolism almost immediately. Hirsutism takes about 6 months to start seeing improvements.

The research was done on 4g Inositol with 400µg Folic acid. So you may want to take just 1 folic acid per day with 4g Inositol. Please remember that I’m not a doctor and a doctor would be able to confirm the correct doses.

Hi. Thanks for all ur help and support just wanted to ask about metformin and inositol. My concern is weight loss so would like to know if you have pcos would metformin be good or inositol to take for weight loss or are they the same if not what are the differences between them thank you very much

Thanks for your question. Here is an article I recently came across: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20222840 The researchers concluded that Inositol was more effective than Metformin in restoring spontaneous ovulation. This is important because it means that hormone balance has been somewhat restored and I’m sure there was an improvement in other PCOS symptoms. One of the women who read this blog reported losing 25lb in 1 month by taking Inositol. So, to answer your question, Inositol has been shown to improve PCOS symptoms without many of the side effects of Metformin. Your doctor would be able to give you some more specifics and guide you as to what would work best for you, in light of your blood tests and medical history.

The powder just dissolves in a glass of water and really doesn’t taste bad (a little like sugar water). You can take the tablets but to take 4g a day, you would need to take 8 capsules per day. I do found the powder less expensive to be honest.

Hi Guys I am new also and i am wondering if having the marina in for really bad symptoms with my periods will effect me taking the inositol? I am not looking to get pregnant just make my symptoms better. I have two children already and my symptoms got worse after my second baby. My weight is the biggest problem for me i just cant seem to loose it!! i would be grateful for any advice..

I found your website over the weekend and find it so beneficial as the doctor doesn’t really give much info on pcos I was diagnosed with pcos in January and have impaired glucose levels The hospital prescribed me with the pill called dianette, I haven’t seen the benefits yet as I still have acne and a lot of facial hair but they’ve told me to persist.

I was thrilled when I came across your website as it helps to know there are other things to try. After reading your inositol article I have been taking 2 650mg capsules a day I haven’t seen a difference yet but it’s only been 4 days, however I wanted to ask whether I should be taking folic acid as well to see the benefits?

The first thing to note is that studies were done using 4g of inositol per day, plus folic acid, so you may want to consider increasing your dose. Also, research is still underway on the effect of using inositol on it’s own. All of the current research uses the combination of inositol and folic acid so it may be safer to take the folic acid anyway. If I come across any research that says otherwise, I’ll let you know!

Hi Tarryn, Ok I have started taking Inositol a few weeks ago when I found your blog. But I have been really confused as to which form of inositol I should be taking to achieve a successful pregnancy, and how. I see that there’s a “Myo-Inositol” and a “D-Chiro-Inositol”. Do forgive me if I’m saying or spelling it wrong, but the form that I’m taking is only Inositol alone. So please tell me your opinion on what form and how I should take it regarding combining it with another supplement or what. I’m totally confused!!!!!! Thanks kindly, Dre Cluse

Inositol is often myo-inositol (with Inositol being it’s common name). D-chiro-inositol is another form of myo-inositol that the body can produce from myo-inositol. Research shows that both myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol have similar effects on PCOS but D-chiro-inositol is taken at a lower dose to be effective. D-chiro does tend to be more expensive though.

So to answer you question, the inositol that you have is myo-inositol and should be helpful in increasing your fertility. Make sure that you’re also taking Folic acid, Omega 3 and Vitamin D.

Hope that clears up some of the confusion but let me know if you have any other questions!

Hi Tarryn, Thanks for this info. I’ve been taking 1500mg of metformin daily for the past two weeks and it cause me to have horrible headaches. I’m going to try the vitamins you’ve mentioned here. I was diagnosed with PCOS after I had my son 4 years ago. I always suspected that something was wrong but my doctors never bothered to test me,even though for 5 years prior to getting pregnant with my son I expressed my concerns. My biggist issue is weight loss, it all goes straight to my abdomen. Thank you again for being a voice for the rest of us.

Thanks so much for your comment and it is a real pleasure to be a voice of women with PCOS. I love connecting with women like you!

How frustrating that you didn’t get the help that you needed and I’m sorry to hear about your Metformin side effects. I have heard great results from Inositol in particular so I hope that it works for you too!

My husband & I have been trying to start our family since Aug of 2009 and in Nov of 2010 I was diagonsed with PCOS. I found your website a few weeks ago on Pinterest and found your article on Myo-inositol very interesting so I started doing some of my own research. I haven’t seen anything scary about it and it’s been getting some pretty great reviews. So I took the plunge and purchased the Pregnitude on Amazon.com and started it on March 1. I’m happy to report that it hasn’t even been 2 weeks and AF has arrived after a 5 month absence. I am very excited that it is acutally working and I haven’t been excited or hopeful about this area of life in a long time. Praying that in a few weeks I might actually see two little pink lines for the first time ever!! Thank you for all of your hard work & for sharing your story with us. It’s greatly appreciated!

Thank you so much for sharing your amazing story! I’m SO happy and excited for you that there is hope at the end of your tunnel. It is so encouraging to hear your story and it is a privilege for me to be a small part of that – thank you!

I hope you get your amazing baby news soon and I can’t wait to hear it!

OK for those of us without a kitchen scale, can you weigh out 2g and tell us approx how many teaspoons or tablespoons that is? 🙂 I’ve ordered the Inositol and can’t wait to start it to see if it helps!!! Thank you for all of this information. 🙂

Thanks so much for this answer – it helps a lot! I’ve purchased it and started taking it this morning. Do you think it matters how much water you take it with? And do I need to take the folic acid with it, or is it ok if it’s in my multi vitamin that I take separately?

Your site is so good. I have not been diagnosed PCOS but I am writing to my doctor (as face-to-face she does not seem to listen) regarding PCOS because of the hair on my face increasing, acne etc etc… I have been using natural progesterone cream for over a year which has helped my moods somewhat but not other symptoms yet. Have you had any success with natural progesterone cream? I use serenity.

Also do you experience thirst? I am thirsty a lot of the month and blood tests ruled out diabetes.

Doctors can be very frustrating and there’s often not enough knowledge of PCOS out there! A letter sounds good – just make sure that you get the service you need! If you are worried about PCOS, ask for blood tests and an ultrasound.

I have not used progesterone cream myself but it is commonly used to treat PCOS. The theory is that the progesterone sends messages to the brain, causing it to release and inhibit other hormones that stimulate the ovaries so that ultimately there is a decrease in testosterone production by the ovaries. I think that it could be beneficial as part of your PCOS treatment but maybe you need to also make sure you’re eating well, taking supplements and exercising regularly.

Funnily enough, I am often thirsty but never linked it to PCOS. I’ll do some research!

Thanks Tarryn, will do, I have had blood tests but they came back clear but I know that when women are still menstruating blood tests are not that conclusive. I am going to encourage my GP to do an ultrasound. The last time I saw her she basically said “you don’t need to worry whether you ovulating, will come to that bridge when your trying to conceive”. Hmpph! My response afterwards was I want to know before the event not after the event. I am 36 and have yet to meet my life partner (fortunately not overly desiring children at present – BUT who knows how I will feel in the future).

Regarding progesterone, I will probably keep taking it, as it has helped, I have completely changed my diet to a no sugar/no refined flour diet and no coffee. I am yet to cut out dairy but going to consider that when I return from my week away. I am having almond milk at the moment which I love but do have soft cheese on ryvitas during the week. I am not sure on giving up butter, as I did think butter did not contain milk protein that causes the problems that is in milk and cheese etc.. but will think about that further.

Supplements I am taking on mainly mult-vitamin and evening primrose oil. I am considering inositol after reading this and also trying to drink spearmint tea (yack!), I love herbal tea but mint tea is something that makes me feel sick but if it helps hersuitism that is something i am willing to try again.

I walk around 4 times a week for at least 40 minutes, often an hour and do tai chi. But mainly I need to find a way to relax more as I have anxiety and this does not help any of this. I am investigating blood type diets too as I must say I relate more to my blood type and apparently type A+ are not good with dairy or meat sooo will see…

Look forward to hearing if you find out anything regarding the thirst.

Hi Kelly & Tarryn! I’m new here, but am so thankful for the info you’ve provided Tarryn!!! I wanted to further comment about the diet about blood types. I did that for a bit & felt wonderful! A lot of what he said concerning the blood type & issues that I had were very accurate. For me, at least. I’m A neg. And what he recommends goes right along with the pcos diet (& info presented from Tarryn). It’s worth looking into. Take the best of both diets… although, I think you’ll find them similar already (esp for blood type A).

Tarryn, I am so happy I came across your website. I have been at a dead end with PCOS. I have been to Dr. To Dr. And all they want to do is to give me more meds. I told one dr. No more drugs!!!! I need help and the medicine is not working. I am going to look into inositol. I will keep you posted!!! Thank you, for making my day better! I see a light at the end of this very long tunnel 🙂

Hi! I am trying to combat my growing, terrible symptoms of PCOS naturally. I am only 20 only wishing to manage my symptoms, not increase fertility. Is there any information on using this in correspondance to birth control?

Birth control can help to regulate your cycle as well as manage your testosterone levels (some can make your symptoms worse so make sure your doctor knows you have PCOS). BCP does not, however, treat any underlying insulin issues. Recent research has shown that women who take BCP and Inositol have better insulin and testosterone levels with better overall improvement in their symptoms.

You can find more info here: https://sites.google.com/site/miscarriageresearch/supplements-and-miscarriage/d-chiro-inositol but it seems as though both D-chiro-inositol and Myo-inositol have very similar effects but D-chiro-Inositol is more effective at lower doses (you need to take more myo-inositol to have the same effect). Inositol seems to be less expensive than D-chiro-inositol so I don’t mind taking a higher dose for it to have the same effect as it is more affordable at the higher dose.

I’m going to have to try this. I have a really hard time ovulating, losing weight, hirutism. The Dr always want me on BCP. I already take enough medication for another condition and would rather try this. Thanks

I’m assuming BCP mean birth control pills. If that’s correct, would I be able to stop taking them if i start on one of the inositol supplements you mentioned? Are there other things I should take as well? I’ve already started to eat better and I’m exercising more.

D-chiro-inositol seems to be more expensive than Inositol but it also has some good research to back it’s effectiveness in PCOS. Myo-Inositol can be converted to D-chiro-inositol in the body (D-chiro-inositol is one of the 9 isomers along with myo-inositol). So, supplementing with either one should be effective in managing some of your PCOS symptoms.

I take 4g of powder per day so my 227g tub of powder should last me just under 2 months.

Ok great!! Once again thanks so much!!! This information is fantastic, but I’m going to do a little more research to see if it I’d ok to still take it after becoming pregnant,, maybe it might help reduce the chances of miscarriages in woman like myself whos had more than one, or even reduce the chances over all.

Hope you are well. I was searching for Inositol and I came across a multi B vitamin capsules… So they contain folic acid and inositol an other things that fall under the B vitamin category… Would this be a sufficient amount or do we need to take a higher percentage of inositol for it to work…

If you work on the 4g used in the research that’s 40 tablets per day! Try this one: Solgar 500mg Inositol Caplets Also, the powder dissolves in water and hardly tastes like anything. If you do decide to go with the capsules, you’ll need to take at least 4 a day, up to 8 if you want to take 4g per day.

Hi there is it a must to take the inositol with folic acid? I have had my babies & only took folic acid in the pregnancys.. I have PCOS plus alopcia totallis (overload with hair now none!) I’m taking omega3 fish oil & multi vit both one a day plus I’m on a clean diet most of the time!lol thanks a lot Helen

I am a nutritionist, and yes Folic Acid is necessary, it allows vitamins and minerals to become digestible to the body. For instance, vitamins like Vit D and B12 cannot be digested unless taken with folic acid. Hope this helps.

I don’t think enough research has been done on Inositol’s safety whilst breastfeeding. I wouldn’t take it until you’ve weaned off the breast, just to be on the safe side. You could also check with your Doctor.

Thanks for the great question, Michelle. You are right in that they do seem quite similar and seem to act on the same insulin pathways. I would check with your doctor before taking Inositol and Metformin. None of the research studies suggest that they were used together and it may cause your blood sugar to drop too much.

Hey Tarryn! Congratulations on getting pregnant 🙂 How long were you on the Inositol? And do you think it may have played a role in conceiving with your second :)?

I haven’t menstruated in 9 years… When I first started, it was sort of irregular.. late by a few days, then months. My Dr. prescribed Tricyclen(Birth control pill,)And my periods did become regular… however, I never felt well on them. Once I stopped, the periods disappeared all together. I also gained 100 pounds and my allergies went on a rampage… (I never had allergies before). 9 years later I’m now married and considering starting a family. I fear that when I am ready… it may be too late and I may not ever be able to conceive.. I’ve heard things about cysts causing scar tissue on the ovaries making it more difficult to release follicles. Should I start fertility treatment now and not wait?

I’m so glad I have found this group, I have been losing sleep for quite some time now.. Dr.s seem to know very little about this disorder…

I think the best thing to do at this point would be to seriously look at your diet, supplement and exercise regime. You can really improve your symptoms and fertility by making some changes in all of these areas. Recent research has also shown that diet and lifestyle changes can be more effective than medication anyway.

Once you’ve done all of this for 3 months at least, you could look into fertility treatments. The diet, supplements and exercise will also stand you in good stead for when you do fall pregnant and you may well respond better to the treatment than if you dived right in first.

Hello All, This is my first ever time to reach out. I have finally given up on hiding that I have PCOS. I am almost thirty and have no idea what else to do. I dont take prescritption medicine I try doing everything naturally. And I need all the help I can get my husband and I have been trying to get pregnant but obviously no luck since Ive never done anything to help it all i wanted to do was ignore it. Any Suggustion Advise ? Thank you so much ! Does this website also have an I phone App?

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The information provided on this site is for general use only and it is not intended to provide personal medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your individual health, I strongly urge you to seek independent medical advice. PCOS Diet Support does not accept any liability for losses or injuries caused from user’s reliance on information on this site.